Jimmy Carter & Ehud Olmert: Feathers Of The Same Bird

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is an extremist – despite his claims on CNN this weekend that that the "extreme right wing" in the United States helped derailed a peace plan with the Palestinians. In 2008, Olmert sought a "full comprehensive peace between us and the Palestinians" – but thankfully the plan was never realized – and if it is true American Jews derailed the process, world Jewry should hold a big party thanking these people. Olmert told Christiane Amanpour that his concessions to the Palestinians met resistance from “superior powers,” including “millions and millions of dollars” from the extreme right-wing Americans who “aimed to topple me as prime minister of Israel.”

Had he presented any such plan as his platform when running for any Israeli office, he would never have won any election as his current sentiments are well outside mainstream Israeli political opinion. Olmert is an extremist with his current political viewpoints, and he conveniently declines to mention that these Americans were major financial benefactors for very many years – and without the help of these fine people he wouldn’t have ever been Mayor of Jerusalem, or Prime Minister of Israel. He is harming Israel with these statements – and it’s the same as Jimmy Carter.

Jimmy Carter holds the record for being the worst ex-president the United States has ever known. His post-presidential meddling in foreign affairs has cost America – with prestige and credibility. He defied US law by visiting Cuba, oversaw the elections in Haiti, against the expressed wishes of the Clinton administration. Carter described Yugoslav strongman Marshal Josef Tito as "a man who believes in human rights." Regarding North Korea's dearly departed Kim Il-Sung, Carter found him "vigorous, intelligent, surprisingly well-informed about the technical issues, and in charge of the decisions about this country," adding "I don't see that [North Koreans] are an outlaw nation."

He was similarly generous regarding Manuel Noriega, Romanian dictator Nicolai Ceaucescu and, Yasser Arafat. He said of Ceausescu and himself, "Our goals are the same: to have a just system of economics and politics . . . We believe in enhancing human rights." Virtually all of the humanitarian activities of the Carter Foundation abroad have been in direct opposition to US foreign policy.

It’s the same as Olmert – harmful to the country he led – and shameful.

Nowhere else in the civilized world is segregation based on one’s religion permitted. Is Olmert suggesting it is extreme for Jews to live in all areas of Jerusalem – yet they can live Harlem or Paris, Moscow or Melbourne? But not Jerusalem? It is no secret that segments of American Jewry put their money where their mouth is –supporting building in all areas of Jerusalem to ensure that Jerusalem remains the eternal and undivided capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

There seems to be an obsession with “extreme right wing American Jews” – whether it’s the heroic Dr. Irving Moskowitz, or the Jerusalem Reclamation Project, Beit Orot, Keep Jerusalem, and The Israel Land Fund or others – they do the vital job of protecting Jerusalem and ensuring the Jewish roots of the city remain in all aspects of the city. In fact in every synagogue in America or the world one would find people who believe Jerusalem must remain Jewish. That’s called Judaism – and in fact, the extremist is Olmert who has done a complete 180 degree shift since being removed from politics due to corruption.

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert

Count me among those who are proud to support financially and in other manners the brave Jews who work tireless to ensure that Jerusalem will remain Jewish.

Colonel Josiah Clement Wedgwood, (aka Josiah Wedgwood IV), a British Liberal Labour politician was a British ally of Ze’ev Jabotinsky who said in May 1939: “We like people who will fight even though we think they are entirely wrong… the Arabs stand up and fight and massacre. Make no mistake they have killed as many of their own people as they have Jews, and they are murderers. On the other hand the Jews are always complaining and begging for justice. That of course is the result of 1800 years of servitude. For 1800 years they have been dependent on the good graces of government and never on their own right arm… that attitude of supplication of living on your knees has a very bad effect among the respectable nations with the Jews.”

Mr. Olmert should take wise note of these comments – and stop inciting the world against Israel with his extreme viewpoints.

Ronn Torossian is the CEO of 5WPR, a leading PR agency and an active Jewish philanthropist proud to support many causes in Jerusalem.